Ideas, views, experiences from MRT Staff at Manchester Metropolitan University

‘What age should my child have a smartphone?’

This morning I was on BBC Radio Manchester discussing at what age children should be able to use/have a smartphone. These are two very different questions in my mind: I’d encourage guided use from a very early age, with a smartphone coming later once you have confidence that your child can handle it (and it’s very individual).

As ever, I would stress that no one size policy fits all. It’s rather like diets, which also don’t work (in the long run), in which we’re taught to follow rules, rather than learn good behaviours that work for our overall wellbeing. And, as always, where can we start the conversation from the ‘benefits’ rather than the ‘dangers’!